[Inequality in Brazilian women's access to medicines for chronic diseases]

Analysis of access to health services in Brazil according to sociodemographic profile: National Health Survey, 2019

OBJECTIVE

to describe the access to and utilization of health services among the Brazilian population according to sociodemographic characteristics, based on the 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS).

METHODS

this was a cross-sectional descriptive study based on a PNS sample; the prevalence and respective confidence intervals of data stratified by sex, schooling, age and national macro-region of residence were calculated; data were analyzed using Stata software version 16.1.

RESULTS

a total of 293,725 individuals were interviewed; males showed lower proportion of medical consultations (66.6%) and were less likely to seek care (17.6%); among those living in the North region, 69.1% had medical consultations; 16.5% of individuals with low level of education obtained medication through the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program.

CONCLUSION

the results reinforce iniquities in access to and utilization of health services, in addition to the need for monitoring indicators in order to guide health policies in Brazil.

[Prevalence rates and inequalities in access to medicines by users of the Brazilian Unified National Health System in 2013 and 2019]

The study aimed to analyze and compare the prevalence of access to medicines and associated factors among users of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). The authors analyzed data from the 2013 and 2019 editions of the Brazilian National Health Survey, a nationwide health study, representative of the Brazilian population. The outcomes were: (1) obtaining from the SUS all the medicines prescribed during care received in the SUS itself in the two weeks prior to the interview (2) and obtaining all the medicines, regardless of the source. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were included as independent variables. In 2019, 29.7% of the interviewees obtained all the prescribed medicines from the SUS, 81.8% obtained all the medicines in general (considering all sources), and 56.4% paid some amount for the medicines. The proportion who did obtain any medicine from the SUS and that made some out-of-pocket payment increased from 2013 to 2019. The likelihood of obtaining all the medicines in the SUS was higher among the poorest, and that of obtaining the medicines regardless of source was higher among the wealthiest. Approximately two out of three persons that were unable to access all the medicines reported difficulties obtaining them in services funded by the public sector. There was an increase in out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines in Brazil and a reduction in access through the SUS, among users of the system.

A cross-sectional study of the quality of life of patients living with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin glargine and neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin and the implications

Objectives

The study aim was to identify key factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin or human insulin analog glargine (IGLA).

Methods

We conducted two cross-sectional studies in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. One with 401 patients treated with IGLA, and the other with 179 T1DM patients treated with NPH. HRQOL was measured by Euroqol (EQ-5D-3L).

Key findings

Most participants were male (51%), aged between 18 and 40 years (47%), non-black (58%) and from the highest economic strata (A1-B2) (74%). Participants perceived their health as good/very good (51%), had one to three medical consultations in the previous year (51%), were not hospitalized in the previous year (74%), did not report angina (96%), diabetic neuropathy (90%), hearing loss (94%) or kidney disease (89%). Non-severe hypoglycaemia episodes in the last 30 days were reported by 17% of participants.

Conclusions

Higher HRQOL was associated with younger age (18–40 years), good/very good health self-perception, having had up to three medical consultations in the last year, not being hospitalized in the last year, having none to three comorbidities, not reporting angina, diabetic neuropathy, hearing loss or kidney disease and having had episodes of non-severe hypoglycaemia. In addition, the findings of our study demonstrated inequalities in access to treatment, which will be the subject of future research projects.

Tendency of use and sources for obtaining oral antidiabetic drugs for treatment of diabetes in Brazil from 2012 to 2018: analysis of the Vigitel survey

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of use of oral medications for the treatment of diabetes, as well as the distribution of sources for obtaining according to sociodemographic variables, in the Brazilian states' capitals and in the Federal District, and their evolution from 2012 to 2018.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and population-based study with individuals aged ≥ 20 years who reported a medical diagnosis of diabetes, interviewed through Vigitel from 2012 to 2018. We estimated the prevalence of use and the distribution of sources for obtaining according to sociodemographic variables (95%CI). We checked differences among proportions using the Pearson's χ2 test (Rao-Scott), with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

There was an increase in the prevalence of use of oral medications for the treatment of diabetes from 77.4 to 85.2% between 2012 and 2018, and a decrease in obtaining in the Health Unit Pharmacies of the Unified Health System (SUS), while there was an increase in obtaining in Popular Pharmacies.

CONCLUSIONS

In Brazil, SUS remained the main source for obtaining oral antidiabetic drugs, financing more than 70% of them in the country, considering the Health Unit Pharmacies and Popular Pharmacies, thereby showing the importance of public Pharmaceutical Policies in guaranteeing the access to medications by the Brazilian population, as well as in reducing inequities in the country. Nevertheless, the migration of obtaining by users from SUS Health Units to Popular Pharmacies suggests the weakening the responsibility of Primary Health Care in the provision oral antidiabetic drugs, thereby undermining the bond and the longitudinal care.

Origin-destination flows in chemotherapy for breast cancer in Brazil: implications for pharmaceutical services

Abstract This study maps and analyzes patient flows for breast cancer chemotherapy in order to identify the potential implications for organization of pharmaceutical services in the cancer care network. An ecological study design sought to correlate the place of residence with place of care for breast cancer patients. All chemotherapy procedures financed by Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) and performed from January to December 2013 were included. Flows were mapped using TerraView® software. A total of 1 347 803 outpatient chemotherapy procedures were delivered by 243 cancer care units located in 156 municipalities. Seventeen cities concentrated approximately 50.0 % of the procedures. A total of 8 538 origin-destination flows were generated and 49.2% of procedures were performed in services located outside the municipality in which the patient resided. Context challenges, related to inequality of access to chemotherapy and hindrances in planning and management of pharmaceutical services, were discussed.

O acesso a medicamentos em sistemas universais de saúde – perspectivas e desafios

RESUMO Este estudo objetivou analisar os desafios do acesso a medicamentos em quatro sistemas universais de saúde da Austrália, do Brasil, do Canadá e do Reino Unido. Estudo qualitativo crítico-reflexivo por meio de revisão integrativa da literatura. Um dos grandes desafios dos sistemas estudados é o da incorporação de medicamentos de alto custo, via análises de custo-efetividade para cumprir a difícil tarefa de conciliar a justiça social e a equidade no acesso com sustentabilidade econômica. Particularmente o Canadá, mesmo sendo um país desenvolvido, ainda vive o dilema de como financiar um sistema de saúde no qual o acesso a medicamentos também seja universal. O Brasil convive com duas realidades problemáticas: primeiro, dar acesso a medicamentos, já padronizados pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), diante de um financiamento diminuto, segundo, de maneira semelhante aos sistemas australiano, canadense e inglês, vive o dilema de como incorporar novos medicamentos eficazes e com viabilidade econômica, além da questão da judicialização da saúde, um fenômeno complexo resultante da fragilidade pública na organização, financiamento, consolidação do SUS.

Access to prescribed medicine in the Brazilian adult population

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence and check the factors associated with access to prescribed medicine by the Brazilian adult population; and to describe the distribution of the presence of monetary expenditure for the purchase, source of medicines, and the reasons for non-access.

METHODS

Based on a cross-sectional design, from the 2013 National Health Research data, we analyzed a representative sample of the population that comprised adults with prescriptions written by a health professional, in the two weeks prior to the survey. The dependent variable was the access to prescribed medicines (full access, partial access, no access). Data were analyzed using the multinomial logistic regression considering total access as the reference category.

RESULTS

The results showed high prevalence of full access to prescribed medicine in Brazil (83.0%; 95%CI 81.3 - 84.6). Most of the individuals had monetary expenditure on the purchase of medicines (63.9%), and the main reasons for no access were the lack of medicine in the public health service (57.6%) and having no money (11.9%). We found higher chances of partial access among individuals attending the public service (OR = 2.5; 95%CI 1.58 - 3.97). Greater chance of no access was associated with non-white skin color (OR = 1.43; 95%CI 1.03 - 1.99).

CONCLUSION

The results revealed significant inequity in access to medicine, emphasizing the need to strengthen the Unified Health System for the free supply of medicines in order to reduce inequalities.

Access to medicines for chronic diseases in Brazil: a multidimensional approach

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the access to medicines to treat non-communicable diseases in Brazil according to socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related factors, from a multidimensional perspective.

METHODS

Analysis of data from the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines (PNAUM), household survey, sampling plan by conglomerates with representativeness of the Brazilian population and large areas of the country, according to sex and age domains. Data collected in 2013-2014 with sample of adults (≥ 20 years) who reported having non-communicable diseases and medical indication for use of medicines (n = 12,725). We assessed the prevalence of access to medicines for self-reported non-communicable diseases, considering four dimensions: availability, geographic accessibility, acceptability, and affordability. We applied Pearson's Chi-square test to assess the statistical significance of the differences between strata, considering the level of significance of 5%. We found prevalence of 94.3%, 5.2%, and 0.5% for full, partial, and null access, respectively. Higher prevalence was observed among seniors in the South compared to the Northeast; for those who reported having one non-communicable disease compared to those who reported having two or more; for those who needed one medicine compared to those who needed three or more; and for those who self-assessed their health as good or very good. Geographic accessibility was similar in the Unified Health System and in the private pharmacies (72.0%). Total availability of medicines was 45.2% in the Unified Health System, 67.4% in the Popular Pharmacy Program, and 88.5% in private pharmacies. Acceptability was 92.5% in the Unified Health System, 97.8% in the Popular Pharmacy Program, and 98.7% in private pharmacies. As to affordability, 2.6% of the individuals failed to take the medicines they should in the 30-day period prior to the interview due to financial difficulty. Prevalence of full access to medicines for non-communicable diseases in Brazil is high and presents significant differences for age group, region of the country, number of non-communicable diseases, and for medicines prescribed and self-assessment of health. The major barriers to access to medicines were identified in the dimensions analyzed.

OBJETIVO

Analisar o acesso a medicamentos para tratar doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no Brasil segundo fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e de saúde, sob perspectiva multidimensional.

MÉTODOS

Análise de dados da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM), inquérito domiciliar, plano amostral por conglomerados com representatividade da população brasileira e grandes regiões do País, segundo domínios de sexo e idade. Dados coletados em 2013-2014 com amostra constituída por adultos (≥ 20 anos) que referiram ter doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e indicação médica para usar medicamentos (n = 12.725). Avaliou-se a prevalência de acesso aos medicamentos para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis autorreferidas, considerando quatro dimensões: disponibilidade, acessibilidade geográfica, aceitabilidade e capacidade aquisitiva. Aplicou-se teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson para avaliar a significância estatística das diferenças entre os estratos, considerando o nível de significância de 5%.

RESULTADOS

Foram encontradas prevalências de 94,3%, 5,2% e 0,5% para acesso total, parcial e nulo, respectivamente. Maiores prevalências ocorreram entre os idosos, na região Sul comparada à região Nordeste; naqueles que referiram ter uma doença crônica não transmissível comparados aos que referiram ter duas ou mais; naqueles que precisavam de um medicamento comparados aos que precisavam de três ou mais; e naqueles que autoavaliaram sua saúde como boa ou muito boa. A acessibilidade geográfica foi semelhante no Sistema Único de Saúde e nas farmácias privadas (72,0%). A disponibilidade total de medicamentos foi de 45,2% no Sistema Único de Saúde, 67,4% no Programa Farmácia Popular e 88,5% nas farmácias privadas. A aceitabilidade foi de 92,5% no Sistema Único de Saúde, 97,8% no Programa Farmácia Popular e 98,7% nas farmácias privadas. Quanto à capacidade aquisitiva, 2,6% dos indivíduos não tomou os medicamentos que deveria nos 30 dias anteriores à entrevista devido à dificuldade financeira.

CONCLUSÕES

A prevalência do acesso total aos medicamentos para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no Brasil é alta e apresenta diferenças significativas por faixa etária, região do País, número de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e de medicamentos prescritos e autoavaliação da saúde. Foram identificadas as principais barreiras ao acesso a medicamentos nas dimensões analisadas.